Tip of the Week

The Olympics is unlike any other competition in that it only occurs every four years.  Competitors who have a bad day, or who make an unlikely mistake will not get another chance for four years.  This is one of the reasons that the pressure is so great.  Unlike most professional (and amateur) athletes who play…

Ask your team: How are the values of the Code being reflected in the Olympics?  It will be good for your players to articulate the many ways in which the Code is reflected, and for them to hear the things that stand out for their teammates.  It is also good to ask them “what do…

The Penn State punishments have been given.  What will be the result – five, ten, twenty, or 100 years from now?  It’s easy to speculate on the short term damage – the next ten years or so, but harder to know what the long term effect will be.  Will this change the character of sports? …

Victor Cruz, the star receiver for the NY Giants, has a book out telling much of his life story.  The title of the book is “Out of the Blue.”  He says that he did not just come “out of the blue” to become a star athlete with the Super Bowl NY Giants.  In fact, he…

Congratulations to Lebron James for a Herculean effort in the finals, and to all the members of the Heat for their championship performance.  But why did the Heat win?  Was it just because of Lebron James?  It’s easy to say “yes,” and it is true they won because of him – but not just because…

At a party a few days ago in Auburn, Alabama, an unknown person showed up at a party, got into an argument with some that were there, and ended up killing three and wounding several others.  Two of those killed were former Auburn football players.  What does the Code say about this tragedy?  Why are…

At the state track and field meet at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, West Liberty-Salem runner Meghan Vogel was about to win the 3,200 meter run on Saturday, June 2 because the only person ahead of her with 200 feet to go, Arden McMath, collapsed from exhaustion.  But, rather than pass her for…

At both the Kentucky Derby and last Saturday’s Preakness Bodemeister ran in first place most of the race, only to be overtaken at the end by I’ll Have Another.  When the owner of Bodemeister was asked what he thought after losing, he said, “Our horse showed up (meaning he was prepared and did not have…

We are coming to the end of the academic year.  This is a good time to pause and to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year.  We often take time to evaluate where we are, to determine our weaknesses, to set goals for ourselves, and to prepare for the future.  It is also important to…

Cole Hamels has been suspended for five games for deliberately hitting a rookie batter.  He wanted to “welcome him to the big leagues,” and thought this was an “old school” way of doing it.  The idea that by playing dirty, breaking the rules, and substituting pseudo-macho behavior – which is all playing dirty is –…